BT announces new Internet deal early

BT has confirmed leaked reports obtained by The Guardian that it will be announcing its latest Internet and telephone deals earlier than originally planned. BT Talk Together will offer unlimited off-peak calls for ?14.99 a month, including line rental. ...more

CD copy protection to rise

Record companies are preparing to increase the use of copy-protection on music CDs following a report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) that the number of CDs sold worldwide in 2001 fell by 6.5 per cent. The IFPI attributes much of the fall to, 'the increased availability of free music via mass digital copying and the Internet. ...more

Virus Bulletin Conference: Security expert warns against online banking

Users should stop banking online, as it is too difficult to detect pharming and phishing attacks, a top security expert says. David Perry, global director of education at Trend Micro, spoke out about his complete distrust of online banking at the Virus Bulletin Conference in Dublin yesterday. 'I avoid banking online, you just cannot tell if you are experiencing a pharming attack,' he said, 'I would say to people "stop online banking". ...more

New UK database immobilises stolen mobile phones

Scheme to counter mobile theft will render stolen handsets useless A new database of EMEI numbers - the unique identifying number for each phone - will allow victims of mobile theft to cancel their phone as easily as cancelling a stolen credit card. The database is shared across all UK mobile operators and lists all the EMEI numbers of handsets reported to have been stolen. Additionally, the Mobile Telephones (Re-programming) Act, which came into force 4 October, criminalises the reprogramming of EMEI numbers with penalties of up to five years in prison. ...more

BT calls on government to make good on broadband

BT has called on the government to act on its pledges for a Broadband Britain to bring ADSL services to all. 'We now have the opportunity to go big time with broadband,' said CEO Ben Verwaayen. Among a wave of announcements this morning, BT has said it hopes to bring ADSL services within reach of 90 per cent of UK homes, made possible by a number of technological improvements. ...more